Karl Alzner signing big for Canadiens, but work remains

MONTREAL -- Unrestricted free agent defenseman Karl Alzner filled a position of need on the left side of the Montreal Canadiens defense by agreeing Saturday to a five-year contract reportedly worth $23.125 million, or $4.625 million per season.
The question now is how general manager Marc Bergevin will address his other needs. Because there are several of them.

RELATED: [Alzner agrees to five-year contract with Canadiens | NHL Free Agent Tracker]
Two of the Canadiens' key unrestricted free agents, forward Alexander Radulov and defenseman Andrei Markov, remained on the market as the opening flurry of signings slowed down.
Perhaps that is why Bergevin did not address the media after signing one of the top defensemen on the market: Because his work is not done.
Saturday also was the first day goaltender Carey Price was allowed to sign a contract extension, something he and Bergevin have shown a lot of confidence will get done.
So, in a sense, Sunday might turn out to be a bigger day than Saturday for the Canadiens.
But Saturday was very important to Montreal because Bergevin was able to essentially replace Alexei Emelin, who was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL Expansion Draft, on the left side of the Canadiens defense with a better player.
Alzner, who turns 29 on Sept. 24, is two-and-a-half years younger than Emelin and plays a similar defensive style of game.
"I'm hoping to come and solidify the back end and … it's tough to do with just one guy, try and take a little bit of pressure off of the goaltending so they don't have to be 100 percent every single game, and then let the forwards go out there and do their thing," Alzner said. "So I think I can do that. I'm definitely going to give it my best shot, and I would absolutely love to get to the promised land with this team."
With Markov, 38, still unsigned, the Canadiens lack a puck-moving presence to play on the left side of the top pair with Shea Weber, and that is not necessarily a need that is filled with Alzner.
Alzner's NHL career high in points was 21 in 2014-15 and 2015-16 despite playing his entire career for the Washington Capitals, one of the top scoring teams in the NHL since 2010-11, Alzner's first full season. So asking him to take Markov's place, if indeed it needs to be taken, is probably not a reasonable request, even though Alzner is convinced he can grow his game offensively at this stage of his career. He had 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 82 games last season.

"I think there's potential there," Alzner said. "I didn't have a great season last year offensively, in terms of my numbers, but I had the most scoring chances I've ever had. If I could have found the back of the net last year, I could have had seven or eight goals. I had that many Grade A scoring chances, and I don't typically have that."
The Canadiens signed four other players Saturday; defenseman Joe Morrow signed a one-year contract, and defenseman Matt Taormina and centers Peter Holland and Byron Froese each signed a two-year contract. Taormina, Holland and Froese each likely is headed for the American Hockey League. Morrow is a depth defenseman who played under coach Claude Julien with the Boston Bruins.
None of those players or Alzner address Montreal's need to add scoring. Bergevin did make a move to help in that area when he traded defenseman prospect Mikhail Sergachev to the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Jonathan Drouin on June 15, but there still is a severe lack of scoring and depth at the center position. With Radulov unsigned and restricted free agent forward Alex Galchenyuk not only needing a new contract, but also the subject of rampant trade rumors and seemingly slated to move from center to left wing this season if he stays in Montreal, there are other issues that need to be addressed.
The acquisition of Alzner can therefore be seen as Step One, and it appears very clear that he was the Canadiens' top target, and the feeling was mutual. Alzner visited Montreal on Monday and Tuesday and didn't visit any of the other teams interested in signing him.
"When it came down to it, playing for the Montreal Canadiens is amazing," Alzner said. "An Original Six team, and not just any Original Six team, but definitely the one that everyone thinks of first when they think of hockey, in my opinion."
Alzner said he grew frustrated with the Capitals' inability to get past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and hopes that will change with the Canadiens, who have gotten past the second round twice in the 24 years since they last won the Stanley Cup in 1993.
"We had good teams in Washington, but we couldn't quite get over that hump," Alzner said. "I had an opportunity this year to get a chance to get over that hump with a new club, so I took that. I think that the [Canadiens] organization is willing to do anything and everything to help us achieve the goal. Just thinking about the possibility of winning with the Montreal Canadiens, it just puts a smile on your face."
The chances of Alzner having a smile on his face while playing with the Canadiens will depend greatly on what Bergevin does next, whether that happens Sunday or in the coming days and weeks.